Ireland v Israel: Government puts the boot in to support match going ahead

Coalition parties finding more and more reasons why fixture should happen

By Tuesday, more supporting evidence had been produced by the coalition, this time journalists being briefed that if the minister were to intervene, it could contravene Uefa rules as it would equate to Government interference. 

As the chants to "stop the game" increase in volume, the Government has found more and more reasons to support the FAI in pressing ahead with the fixture against Israel.

Under another round of questioning, Taoiseach Micheál Martin insisted in the Dáil the Irish football team could be the "main losers" in all of this, adding: "I have to weigh that up."

Opposition parties remain united that the clash between Israel and Ireland, which is now expected to be moved abroad, cannot go ahead given the ongoing genocide in Gaza, attacks in the West Bank, and the bombing of Lebanon.

But in recent days, the coalition's messaging machine has gone into overdrive, privately briefing out numerous issues that would arise if the Boys in Green go ahead with a match boycott.

On Monday, ahead of separate motions from Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael spin doctors were already going full studs up in their defence of the FAI.

In an uncharacteristic show of unity, the same speaking points were being read out, among the key arguments being stressed was the claim the Government could not possibly interfere in the business of a sporting body that comes under the aegis of a Government department.

It was stressed the decision did not rest with the Government or the minister.

It was pointed out that although visas were revoked for the Yugoslavian football team back in 1999, the match went ahead three months later.

It was even queried as to why the Government had not come under the same level of opposition pressure to intervene when RTÉ was being lobbied on the Eurovision Song Contest.

Interestingly, a nugget was offered that Sinn Féin had been approached by the FAI in a bid to have their motion put off, with the sporting body worried it would detract from the women's match taking place at the same time on Tuesday. Sinn Féin later clarified the party had not been officially contacted by the football organisation.

By Tuesday, more supporting evidence had been produced by the coalition, this time journalists being briefed that if the minister were to intervene, it could contravene Uefa rules as it would equate to Government interference. 

The line being briefed behind the scenes was that if the Dáil passed a motion calling on the cancellation of the game, it would amount to political interference and would therefore result in hefty penalties for the FAI, up to and including expulsion from competition.

Ahead of the debate on Sinn Féin's motion, the Taoiseach presented this argument in the Dáil chamber, stating: "On the match involving the Football Association of Ireland, Uefa and Fifa have their rules for members of their organisations. Their rules provide that their national football governance bodies must act independently and be free of political interference. A series of countries have actually been suspended from international competition in the past because of political interference. That is the reality of it."

As the excuses and explanations mounted up, there were moves to dismiss the opposition as using the match as a "political wedge".

One senior member of the Government said: "No matter what we do, it won't be enough for the opposition. They don't represent the broad thrust of public opinion on this issue.

"The Government will not be leaning into the opposition on this."